The Purus Project is one of only ten forest carbon initiatives in the world to achieve dual Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) with Gold Distinction. This significant achievement means that the Purus Project successfully demonstrated a net positive impact on climate, community and biodiversity. Verification is the only way for projects to issue offsets onto an environmental registry.

"Achieving dual VCS-CCBS verification is a major milestone," says Eric Carlson, CEO CarbonCo, LLC. "The Purus Project is a wonderful example of how REDD+ projects protect forests while fighting climate change and improving human well-being in developing countries. It is also a haven for endangered species."

The Purus Project is the first private REDD+ project developed in Acre and is aligned with the State's System of Incentives for Environmental Services. Up to 34,702 hectares (85,714 acres) of privately-owned tropical rainforest within the Amazon Basin will be protected. This important project also preserves endangered species and a wide range of ecosystem services, provides direct benefits to local communities, and mitigates the release of nearly 900,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in its first 10 years.

CarbonCo, LLC provided financing and project development services for the Purus Project, while partnering with Carbon Securities and the local landowners' organization known as Moura e Rosa Empreendimentos Imobiliários LTDA.

"The carbon offset credits the Purus Project issues help our local communities while slowing global warming," said Normando Sales and Wanderley Rosa, Managing Directors of Moura & Rosa, "We are delighted to be part of a productive, efficient and cost-effective mechanism to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and mass deforestation."

The Purus Project mitigates deforestation through numerous locally-run activities including agricultural extension training, patrols of potential deforestation sites, through the planned building of better houses and by installing solar photovoltaic panels for local communities.

CarbonCo, LLC ("CarbonCo"), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Carbonfund.org Foundation, is a limited liability company based in Bethesda, Maryland, which develops large-scale, carbon reduction projects by working with landowners, communities and national and local stakeholders to ensure large tracts of tropical forests are protected from deforestation, attain international certification, and create value for all project proponents.

Moura e Rosa Empreendimentos Imobiliários LTDA ("Moura & Rosa") is the private landowners' organization founded by Normando Rodrigues Sales and Wanderley Cesário Rosa in February 2009 to align the twin goals of preserving tropical rainforests and benefiting local communities.

About Carbon Securities:

Freitas International Group, LLC does business as Carbon Securities and works with CarbonCo LLC to identify and develop high quality carbon reduction projects in the Amazon Basin. Main offices are located in Miami, Florida and associates in the Brazilian cities of Goiânia, Brasília, Rio Branco, Belém, and São Paulo.

The Purus Project is one of only ten forest carbon initiatives in the world to achieve dual Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) with Gold Distinction. This significant achievement means that the Purus Project successfully demonstrated a net positive impact on climate, community and biodiversity. Verification is the only way for projects to issue offsets onto an environmental registry.

"Achieving dual VCS-CCBS verification is a major milestone," says Eric Carlson, CEO CarbonCo, LLC. "The Purus Project is a wonderful example of how REDD+ projects protect forests while fighting climate change and improving human well-being in developing countries. It is also a haven for endangered species."

The Purus Project is the first private REDD+ project developed in Acre and is aligned with the State’s System of Incentives for Environmental Services. Up to 34,702 hectares (85,714 acres) of privately-owned tropical rainforest within the Amazon Basin will be protected. This important project also preserves endangered species and a wide range of ecosystem services, provides direct benefits to local communities, and mitigates the release of nearly 900,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in its first 10 years.

CarbonCo, LLC provided financing and project development services for the Purus Project, while partnering with Carbon Securities and the local landowners' organization known as Moura e Rosa Empreendimentos Imobiliários LTDA.

"The carbon offset credits the Purus Project issues help our local communities while slowing global warming," said Normando Sales and Wanderley Rosa, Managing Directors of Moura & Rosa, "We are delighted to be part of a productive, efficient and cost-effective mechanism to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and mass deforestation."

The Purus Project mitigates deforestation through numerous locally-run activities including agricultural extension training, patrols of potential deforestation sites, through the planned building of better houses and by installing solar photovoltaic panels for local communities.

CarbonCo, LLC ("CarbonCo"), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Carbonfund.org Foundation, is a limited liability company based in Bethesda, Maryland, which develops large-scale, carbon reduction projects by working with landowners, communities and national and local stakeholders to ensure large tracts of tropical forests are protected from deforestation, attain international certification, and create value for all project proponents.

Moura e Rosa Empreendimentos Imobiliários LTDA ("Moura & Rosa") is the private landowners’ organization founded by Normando Rodrigues Sales and Wanderley Cesário Rosa in February 2009 to align the twin goals of preserving tropical rainforests and benefiting local communities.

About Carbon Securities:

Freitas International Group, LLC does business as Carbon Securities and works with CarbonCo LLC to identify and develop high quality carbon reduction projects in the Amazon Basin. Main offices are located in Miami, Florida and associates in the Brazilian cities of Goiânia, Brasília, Rio Branco, Belém, and São Paulo.

Mac-Gray Campus Solution’s Lighten the Load™ initiative is reducing college carbon footprints while educating students on the benefits of making sustainable choices in the laundry room. We applaud the company for looking at the impact on the environment as a corporate priority. By encouraging campuses to reduce the environmental impact of their properties and facilities, and offering them environmentally responsible solutions to accomplish this objective, Mac-Gray is serving an important role to help campuses further their efforts to promote on campus sustainability. Since the start of the partnership six years ago, we are proud to report that Mac-Gray has mitigated over 107 million pounds of CO2 through external carbon reduction projects chosen to meet the voluntary guidelines set forth by the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

In 2012, Mac-Gray supported our exceptional project located in the “lungs of the Earth” - the Brazilian Amazon. In the world's largest rainforest, the PURUS REDD + (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) Project will protect over 85,000 acres from slash-and-burn forest clearing and prevent millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. The Purus Project, the first ever REDD+ project in the State of Acre, to achieve dual-validation to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) with Gold Distinction, boasts many environmental and community benefits including: reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, mitigation of climate change, conservation of habitat for endangered and threatened species, improvement for local water quality, retaining of top soil and control erosion, establishing alternative sources of income and employment opportunities, and social projects and programs such as building a new school and health clinic. It is a high standard, cutting edge project that proves beneficial for both planet and people.

Carbonfund.org Foundation is a proud partner of Mac-Gray’s Lighten the Load program and we look forward to building on the great work that has been done over the past six years.

66 percent of U.S. adults say they want to live environmentally responsibly, but fail to do so. Carbonfund.org Foundation aims to change that.

This holiday season, the Carbonfund.org Foundation is offering our Plant a Tree – Dine for Free campaign, a cost-effective and fun way for anyone to help the environment by planting trees­ around the world while receiving up to $500 in eGift Cards from Restaurant.com. The campaign is a great way for individuals or businesses to meet their sustainability goals and holiday gift giving in one fell swoop.

Restaurant.com offers over 50,000 dining rewards nationwide and they have no expiration.

Planting trees around the world cleans the air and water, reduces pollution, creates jobs and local economic benefits, and lowers carbon dioxide emissions, among other tree-planting benefits. Carbonfund.org will plant trees in countries including the United States, Haiti, Brazil, India and China.

“This is an absolutely stunning holiday offer that any environmentalist or foodie can get behind,” exclaimed Carbonfund.org president Eric Carlson. “Our goal has always been to make environmental protection simple and affordable to engage millions of people to do their part. The Plant a Tree-Dine for Free campaign is a winner on so many levels. And no wrapping paper or shipping!”

Begin living environmentally responsibly today by planting trees. Together we can meet our goal of planting 50 million trees!

66 percent of U.S. adults say they want to live environmentally responsibly, but fail to do so. Carbonfund.org Foundation aims to change that.

(Bethesda, MD - November 12, 2013)

This holiday season, the Carbonfund.org Foundation is offering our Plant a Tree – Dine for Free campaign, a cost-effective and fun way for anyone to help the environment by planting trees­ around the world while receiving up to $500 in eGift Cards from Restaurant.com. The campaign is a great way for individuals or businesses to meet their sustainability goals and holiday gift giving in one fell swoop.

Restaurant.com offers over 50,000 dining rewards nationwide and they have no expiration.

Planting trees around the world cleans the air and water, reduces pollution, creates jobs and local economic benefits, and lowers carbon dioxide emissions, among other tree-planting benefits. Carbonfund.org will plant trees in countries including the United States, Haiti, Brazil, India and China.

“This is an absolutely stunning holiday offer that any environmentalist or foodie can get behind,” exclaimed Carbonfund.org president Eric Carlson. “Our goal has always been to make environmental protection simple and affordable to engage millions of people to do their part. The Plant a Tree-Dine for Free campaign is a winner on so many levels. And no wrapping paper or shipping!”

Begin living environmentally responsibly today by planting trees. Together we can meet our goal of planting 50 million trees!

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About the Carbonfund.org Foundation

The Carbonfund.org Foundation is leading the fight against global warming, making it easy and affordable for any individual, business or organization to reduce and offset their climate impact and hasten the transition to a low-carbon future. Carbonfund.org achieves its goals through climate change education, carbon reduction projects, and public outreach.

Online shopping has exploded in recent years and has rapidly become the norm in many countries. According to a recent report by U.K.-based Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG), global business-to-consumer e-commerce sales will pass the $1.25 trillion mark by 2013, up 30% over total 2011 online retail shopping sales.

While studies have shown that online shopping may reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 35 percent compared to traditional retail shopping, many forward-thinking online retailers recognize that “green shoppers” expect even more in environmental sustainability.

New CarbonFree® Business Partner Tradewinds Imports, offering modern bathroom vanities and contemporary bathroom furnishings only through its online store, made the decision to neutralize its annual operational emissions by supporting Carbonfund.org’s global forestry projects. In addition, many of their vanities and bathroom furnishings are made from 100% reclaimed, recycled or sustainably forested hardwoods. Most of their vanities are hand-hewn, rather than machine-made, reducing carbon emissions during the manufacturing process.

“The global environment and the health of our forests is of the utmost importance to Tradewinds Imports, and we are immensely proud to announce our work with Carbonfund.org to help offset carbon emissions and repopulate the trees of our earth,” states Todd Harmon, CEO of Tradewinds Imports. “Carbonfund.org is a fantastic organization and we are very excited to aid them in their carbon reduction efforts. Being good custodians of our forests is vital to our lives as well as our business, so we are delighted to help Carbonfund.org meet their reforestation and avoided de-forestation goals.”

Carbonfund.org’s online retail business partners help to set the bar higher for reducing carbon emissions related to the shopping experience, and Tradewinds Imports joins its sister online stores Bath Gems and Patio Productions as CarbonFree® Business Leaders.